Education is the key to unlocking the door to socioeconomic change. Women and children with seemingly no way out of the cycle of poverty are given a chance by the means to educate themselves and better their lives. This year’s Work An Hour Initiative funds many projects that bring the gift of education to the impoverished communities of India. This week, we highlight two innovative centers that serve communities in Manipur and Tamil Nadu helping them bridge the gap.

SACSAS Academy

The SACSAS Academy in the Laishoi and Maobam villages of Manipur influences change for the underprivileged and downtrodden children (up to the age of 8) that make up a large part of the community. Providing them with quality education , SACSAS Academy offers children a way out in areas where there is no formal schooling system. Generally the illiterate parents never feel the importance of getting their children quality education. SACSAS instills the habit of going to school in children so that they will compel their parents to send them to schools in nearby villages once they are finished at SACSAS Academy. Read more.

People’s Action For Transformation (PAT)

PAT provides a number of unique and innovative services for the slum community of Trichy in Tamil Nadu. It offers the women of the area micro-loans at reasonable interest rates along with guidance on financial management and other microfinance programs. Women put these loans to use by starting small enterprises or expanding their existing enterprise. The interest from these loans is used to fund the primary education and day care of the women’s children. Read more about this circular pattern of operation which has enabled PAT to make large strides towards self-sustenance.

WAH 2010 is in the last two weeks of its campaign. We have a fair way to go. You can help us reach our target and continue supporting innovative projects that focus on socioeconomic change in India. Donate your hour now …

Asha for Education is a fully volunteer-run 501(c)(3) non-profit with 50+ chapters around the world whose mission is to catalyze socio-economic change in India through the education of underprivileged children. Click here for more details about us.

We work with over 200 projects spread across the length and breadth of India. The projects deal with educational issues from pre-primary schooling to professional education in locations from urban slums to isolated rural areas. Click here to learn more.

You can help us in our mission in a variety of ways. You can join a local chapter, get involved with projects in India at an intimate level with the Asha Stars program, help us with our fundraising efforts, visit a project in India, intern with us or our project partners or Donate! Click here to learn more.